What does a Air Traffic Controllers salary really buy you in Alaska?
Alaska is 2.0% pricier than the US averageData: BLS OEWS 2024 + BEA Regional Price Parities 2022 • Updated 2026-03-31
Alaska's Regional Price Parity (RPP) is 102.0, meaning prices are 2.0% higher the national average. A Air Traffic Controllers earning $120,370 in Alaska has the equivalent purchasing power of $118,009 in an average-cost US state.
Every dollar goes further in low-cost states. Here is how each salary percentile compares after adjusting for Alaska's cost of living.
| Percentile | Nominal Salary | COL-Adjusted | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10th Percentile (P10) | $60,400 | $59,215 | $-1,184 |
| 25th Percentile (P25) | $91,440 | $89,647 | $-1,792 |
| Median (P50) | $120,370 | $118,009 | $-2,360 |
| 75th Percentile (P75) | $162,410 | $159,225 | $-3,184 |
| 90th Percentile (P90) | $184,950 | $181,323 | $-3,626 |
Alaska's cost of living is close to the national average, so $120,370 keeps most of its value at $118,009 in real terms. Location choice here is more about career opportunities than cost arbitrage.
Where does Air Traffic Controllers salary stretch the furthest? Top 10 states ranked by COL-adjusted median salary.
Alaska ranks #31 out of 44 states for Air Traffic Controllers after cost-of-living adjustment.
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A Air Traffic Controllers in Alaska earns a median salary of $120,370 per year. After adjusting for Alaska's cost of living (RPP=102.0), the real purchasing power is $118,009 — a -2.0% difference.
Alaska's cost of living is 2.0% higher than the national average according to the BEA Regional Price Parities (2022). The RPP index for Alaska is 102.0 (US average = 100).
Regional Price Parities (RPPs) are price indexes published by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) that measure differences in price levels across states. They are expressed as a percentage of the national average (US = 100). Higher RPP means higher cost of living.
The adjusted salary is calculated as: Nominal Salary x (100 / RPP). For a Air Traffic Controllers in Alaska: $120,370 x (100 / 102.0) = $118,009. This represents what the salary would be worth in a state with average living costs.